Guest Blogger from Lebanon: Ziad

I’m 46, married, and have 2 great kids: Jad and Mira, they study at the National Protestant College.  I was born from a Muslim father and a Christian mother.  I have been working at the American University of Beirut (lucky me) for 26 years.  I’m also a writer by hobby: I have 2 poetry collections and 2 novels and I write weekly in a local paper.
Personally I’m doing fine with bipolar depression; thanks to the medical insurance at AUB and my great DR Munir Khani.and thanks to my wife, kids, family and friends. Bipolar people need a lot of understanding people around them; and we in Lebanon, family has survived and social life is still booming.
I’m doing fine with my BP because it has taught me to be patient, accept myself and protect my privacy and peace of mind. When I’m not OK, I stay away from people, walk along the sea shore, and find solace in painting and writing.
Living in Beirut is not so easy. It is a hectic city, a lot of politics and tension. but I love the city and I adore it, because it is an open city; here we have all the world; it is like a window to the world, where east and west meet.
My advice to all the bipolar people is one sentence: accept yourselves, so that people can accept you.
Good luck & and enjoy the ups and downs!
Regards, Ziad